New Member: 1986 Buick Estate Wagon Restoration Project

I just joined this forum, but have been poking around this site for bits of advice and leads on hard to find parts. this past weekend, I final "started" my restoration of my dad's 86 Lesabre Wagon. I purchased this for him about 6 yrs ago (Lord, has it been that long ago?) with intention of swapping his crate engine with only 35K miles on it from his rusty 1990 estate wagon, stripping the car and having the body work done, replacing the woodgrain decals and slowing bringing this car back from its neglected past. I have spent the last 6 yrs and countless hours on the relentless search for decent factory parts to replace the broken, damaged or just plain missing parts on this car. As many of you out there can relate, there are just no wagons left in the bone yards that have not been gutted and left for dead. All the good parts are either gone, broken (while trying to remove another part) or marked, stained, moldy, etc. To have found about 99% of the parts I need for my project is unbelieveable.

The time has come to finally start tearing it apart and building it back up, replacing parts as I go. I don't plan on providing a play, by play of my resto, but I will have extra parts left over that I'm sure many of you can use to fix up your rides. I refuse to simply throw these parts away or give them to the junk man unless it gets to the point where I sit on them too long post-resto and my wife says they have to go. Drop me an email or PM and I will try to respond accordingly. If anyone needs anything specific and is near the western suburbs of Chicago, let me know. As I replace parts after the car comes back from the body shop, I have no problem getting rid of them quickly. I have also posted a craigslist thread with some of the potential parts listed. Type in "RWD buick wagon" and you should find it.

Thanks to all who have given me advice (and strength) to keep forging along this seemingly endless journey. I can't wait to get the car back from the shop with a nice new coat of paint and straight body panels again.

Ted

 

Ted, hang in there and hold onto your patience. "Good things come to he who waits", they say, and it sounds like you're going about the resto correctly. How about some "before" pictures?
Good luck.
Oh, and by the way, why is it under FWD Buick Wagon. it's rwd, isn't it?

 

Ted....Hope your not fat like meI can totally relate to no full size 80's Buick wagons in the wreakers.

Would be nice to see your wagon, even if not play by play, before and after pics are the best!:2_thumbs_up_-_anima

I do need one stupid little part if you happen to have a extra... The pic is self explanitory.......



Enjoy the nut house

 

Tedy, you crack me up. You've been looking for that elusive little piece, it seems, ever since I came on this forum. I can't believe you still haven't been able to get one.

 

I know, freeken hens teeth that stupid little piece:banghead3::banghead3::banghead3:

 

I need the same part for my 442... You'd be amazed how hard those are to find!!!

Sorry for the highjack - Welcome to the forum tfv!!!

 

And I bet it's driving you crazy, especially since it's the driver's door and you see it every single time you get in and out of the car.

 

..............

 

X2...........

 

I stand corrected, it's under RWD!! And Teddy, since we have the same name, I will do my best in locating one of those door handle woodgrain covers. I know I have one in my stash of parts somewhere.....

 

, and only 1 "d'' in my name

So tell us some more about your Buick, what colour, inside and out, are you going for a stock look on the body and sleeper,etc, etc.

 

My Bad

Sorry Tedy; never met a Tedy with one "d". My dad's car is bone stock, dark blue metallic (now a nice FLAT finish of blue and black primer), dark blue interior, wire wheels (factory covers) with stock dash. Dark brown woodgrain exterior. When finished, will have upgraded 1990 estate wagon grille, steering column and wheel, rear tailgate window with defroster lines. His car did not come with the rear defroster, but I found this window in pristine condition and thought why not upgrade the look. I even swapped in the rear defroster switch in the dash with upgraded woodgrain dash bezels. Will also (hopefully have a pristine set of plush factory dark blue seats from a 1985 Lesabre Limited sedan. Fully polished (not show car) stainless trim as well.

I snapped several photos of the exterior before diving in this past Sunday. I will snap many more along the way and especially several of the interior to show the downside of buying a rust free car from the south that was never garaged. Can we say sun fade?????

Thanks to all who said "hi" and I will keep in touch from time to time. Please check out my post about removing the 2nd row rear seat cushions. I need to know how to remove the upper seat cushion.

Ted

 

Hello Ted welcome to the forum...as you will soon find out, thishappens alot. Can't wait to see you car.

 

Teddy.

 

Found it Tedy!

Here's a pic. No charge (didn't cost me a penny) just PM your address and it goes tomorrow, if they're the right ones. The 82 Cutlass Crewser had a different handle on the rear doors. I took all 4. Spares? Nice woody. Also has a roofrack...